Novelist, playwright, film actor, martial artist, and political commentator, Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) was arguably the most famous person in Japan at the time of his death. Henry Scott Stokes, one of Mishima's closest friends, was the only non-Japanese allowed to attend the trial of the men involved in Mishima's spectacular suicide. In this insightful and empathetic look at the writer, Stokes guides the reader through the milestones of Mishima's meteoric and eclectic career and delves into the artist's major works and themes. This biography skillfully and compassionately illuminates the achievements and disquieting ideas of a brilliant and deeply troubled man, an artist of whom Nobel Laureate Yasunari Kawabata had said, "A writer of Mishima's caliber comes along only once every two or three hundred years."

About the Author
Henry Scott Stokes is a noted journalist who has worked for both the New York Times and the London Times. Most recently, he has edited an anthology entitled The Kwangju Uprising: Eyewitness Press Accounts of Korea's Tiananmen. He lives in Tokyo.

Reviews
A brilliant, riveting portrayal not only of Mishima, but also of the upper orders in Japan -- Tom Wolfe
The book is humane, intelligent, and probably as close as a Western reader is likely to get to the subject.... A literate examination examination of the man's work. * Time *



Book Information
ISBN 9780815410744
Author Henry Scott Stokes
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Cooper Square Publishers Inc.,U.S.
Publisher Cooper Square Publishers Inc.,U.S.
Weight(grams) 531g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 155mm * 21mm